Nevada-Utah Conference

The students in the Grades 2-4 class at Riverview Christian Academy (RCA) in Reno, Nevada, love studying their Bibles! Each morning the class reads together from the Scriptures, writing down questions and unfamiliar vocabulary in their Bible journals. Those questions that they are not able to get answered through class discussion and searching their Bibles are saved for Wednesday mornings. Each Wednesday morning, Damon Washington, associate pastor of the Riverview Adventist church, comes to provide answers to their questions through a lively, exciting discussion. It is one of the highlights of the week.

Last school year, several of the students from the Grades 2-4 class requested to be baptized. Pastor Washington came to the school regularly to prepare

PHOTO: SAMANTHA CAMACHO

TOP LEFT: After their baptisms, Dani and Dallan exuberantly watch their friend Daniel Camacho make his public commitment. TOP RIGHT: Daniel Camacho is baptized by his father, Carlos Camacho, NUC president. BOTTOM LEFT: Pastor Damon Washington baptizes Dallan Lista. BOTTOM RIGHT: Daniel Camacho is baptized by his father, Elder Carlos Camacho, as his classmates, friends, and family look on.

Dallan Lista, Dani Wyman, and Daniel Camacho declare their commitment to follow Jesus prior to their baptisms. those students for baptism. Three of the students— Dallan Lista, Daniel Camacho, and Dani Wyman—chose to be baptized at the end-of-the-year school program and graduation. It was an exciting event for all of the children in the school to witness, along with all of the families and friends in attendance! Recalling this special event, Becky Phillips, parent of several RCA students, shared the following:

“This has to be one of the most beautiful, pure, and spiritual moments I have ever witnessed. At the yearend program, one of the students at Riverview Christian Academy was in the baptismal tank, ready to be baptized. The children, her classmates, were all sitting in the pews, but suddenly, they all rushed the stage and surrounded her as she gave her life to Christ. As she rose back above the water, they clapped and cheered for her. I got chills, and tears filled my eyes. It was completely spontaneous! What a precious sight. Thank you, Jesus, for these children and the hope they give us.”

Five additional RCA students have completed their baptismal preparation classes and are now awaiting their big day. Pastor Washington is currently studying with three others and many more are excitedly waiting for their turn.

It is such a joy to see the enthusiasm these students have for studying their Bibles and committing their lives to Jesus! The Holy Spirit is truly at work in Reno. Thank you for your prayers and support for Adventist education!

____________________ By Mariann Beddoe

Imagine having a friend that counts the number of hairs on your head every day of your life. That’s crazy, you think. Why bother? You don’t have to imagine such a friend, because Jesus is crazy about you! He tells us in Matthew 10:30, “The very hairs of your head are all numbered” (NKJV).

We lose hair every day from washing, combing, and brushing. As the number of hairs on our heads changes every day, Jesus has to do a daily recount, but He doesn’t mind at all. In fact, He loves it!

However, Jesus does not love it when children lose their hair due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, Alopecia (an autoimmune skin disease that attacks the hair follicles), Trichotillomania (an obsessivecompulsive and related disorder), burns, and other medical issues. Wigs for Kids is a nonprofit organization with this mission statement: Helping children look themselves and live their lives. For 40 years, Wigs for Kids has been providing hair for children who’ve lost their own hair, at no cost to the children or their families.

For a young person, losing their hair is devastating because they desperately want to be accepted by their peers. Hair loss erodes a child’s self-confidence. Wigs help the kids see themselves in the mirror as the children they were before their hair loss.

Meet Teeba and Nikki, two recipients of Wigs for Kids. Teeba, born in Iraq, survived a car bombing that killed her parents. Her scalp was so badly burned that there was no possibility of her hair ever growing back. Receiving new hair from Wigs for Kids transformed her world. Nine-year-old Nikki was a cancer patient who told her mom, “I can endure the pain of the disease and the treatment, but I can’t endure the pain of losing my hair.” The wig provided for Nikki gave her back her look and restored her self-esteem. With renewed confidence and hope, Nikki courageously underwent a bone marrow transplant and is cancer-free today.

Wasatch Hills church member Nancy Schafner wanted to share her blessing of a full head of healthy hair. Hearing about Wigs for Kids, she recently donated two 12-inch ponytails. When she asked if she could know who received her hair, she was told, “No. We’re sorry. We aren’t set up to track things that way. But you can write a note and put it with your hair.”

That is exactly what Nancy did. She wrote, “I am so sorry you are sick. Remember Jesus loves you. He doesn’t want anybody to be sick. He is coming back soon and wants to take you home to heaven where there will be no more pain or sickness. Pray to Him and He will give you strength and peace.”

Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:40 that if you’ve done it to the least of these, you’ve done it to Him.

Please be encouraged to share what you can, when you can. You will be a blessing to others.

Nancy's waistlength hair before getting cut and after her haircut, getting ready to donate her ponytails.

____________________ By Nancy Meyer Schafner, as told to Michelle Ward